Kingston aldermen postpone sinkhole discussion

KINGSTON >> A Common Council panel Wednesday night postponed a review of a second engineering opinion concerning soil stabilization around the Washington Avenue sinkhole.

The matter was listed on an agenda of the council’s Finance/Economic Development Committee but specific discussion of the opinion by the firm Brierley Associates of Syracuse was put off.

City Engineer Ralph Swenson told the committee that he was not prepared to give a recommendation on either the second opinion or the first opinion offered by Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers of New York City. The two firms differ on their approach to soil stabilization.

Swenson said more discussion was needed between his office, the consulting firms, and Kingston Mayor Shayne Gallo. A meeting is scheduled for Jan. 29.

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The stabilization work is intended to keep a 100-year-old underground stormwater tunnel at the site from sagging. Leaks in that tunnel are believed to have caused the sinkhole, which opened up nearly three years ago on Washington Avenue near Linderman Avenue.

Brierley has recommended a portion of the tunnel be encased in a cement-like material, a shaft atop the tunnel be closed off and another be built along its side. It also says efforts should be made to close off voids in soil around the tunnel.

Additionally, Brierley said in a letter to city officials, a “load transfer platform (should be constructed) to distribute traffic loads from the pavement to the rammed aggregate piers.”

Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers said an underground arch — 50 feet high, 175 feet long and weighing about 10,000 tons — should be constructed around the sagging tunnel.

The Common Council will have to authorize spending an additional $2 million if either project is approved. Lawmakers already have authorized spending about $4 million on sinkhole-related work.

About the Author

Paul Kirby is a reporter for the Freeman, covering Kingston politics. He has been at the Freeman since August 1996. Reach the author at pkirby@freemanonline.com
or follow Paul on Twitter: @PaulatFreeman.